Thank you for renting with Sea Horse, we appreciate your business and we welcome you to Abaco. In an effort to better assist you, our guest, we have compiled the following info about boating on the Sea of Abaco.

Fuel: When you pick up your boat you will start out with a full tank of gas and oil. When you return the boat we will take it to the fuel dock and fill the tank, you will be responsible for this amount of gas & oil. All boats carry sufficient gas & oil for a day of boating & in most cases enough for several days. To give you a rough idea of gas consumption the 70 HP will burn approximately 3 to 4 gallons per hour (GPH), the 115 HP will burn approx. 5 to 6 GPH, 150 HP will burn approx. 8 to 9 GPH & the 250 HP uses approx 12 to 14 GPH. All boats use about 1 quart of oil for every 12 gallons of gas burned. Remember these are only estimates as many factors will increase (or decrease) consumption, for example how fast you go, how much weight you have in the boat, weather & sea conditions, etc. You can also gauge fuel use by multiplying the number of hours run times the average GPH for your engine. Before each trip be careful to consider how far you are going versus the amount of gas in the tank & always gauge your fuel tank quantity while the boat is level & stationary at the dock, not underway.

Shallow Water: Not usually a problem, most of the Sea of Abaco has a soft/sandy/grassybottom with depth ranging from 6’ to 12’ General rules of thumb are; stay at least 100 yards off the shoreline, know where you are in relation to your map & when in doubt – slow down & proceed cautiously. It is on the ‘outside’ (Atlantic side) of the Cays that you get into trouble most often & more easily. If you are not familiar with this type of boating avoid the shoal areas & the outer reefs.

Engine Alarms: As mentioned above the Sea of Abaco has a sandy bottom. If you stir up the bottom in a sandy area with the propeller it is possible that sand may get drawn into the motor cooling system. This will cause a temporary restriction in the cooling water flow & trigger the overheat warning. An alarm will sound, the 2nd left light on the Tachometer will illuminate & the Speed Limit Overheat Warning cuts the motor to a maximum of 2500 engine RPMs (engine shakes violently if you try to exceed 2500 RPM). If this happens to you [1] shut off motor & tilt out of water for 10 minutes [2] check water intake for blockage [3] tilt motor down, restart & check for water discharge and/or water pressure gauge for 4 – 8 PSI at idle 12 – 20 PSI at cruise speed. If problem persists please stop motor & contact us for assistance or instructions.

Impacts: Motor impacts with solid structures will cause expensive damage. There are some inshore shallows that you should be aware of. A bent prop or damaged skeg can cost you up to several thousand dollars depending on circumstances. Study your intended route on your chart ahead of time & always have someone else besides the Captain as lookout. Always be certain the boat is properly secure at your dock overnight with the motor tilted out of the water.

Snorkeling/Diving: Mooring buoys have been placed at the Sandy Cay Reef (Pelican Cays National Park), Fowl Cay Reef (Fowl Cay Preserve) & at Mermaids Reef for your convenience & to keep anchors from destroying the reefs. No fishing or any gathering is allowed within these preserves. Please observe all Bahamian fishing/diving rules & regulations. If you are not sure what is legal please ask before you act. If we all do not protect the environment we will have nothing to offer the visitor who comes down next week so please take only photos & memories & leave only footprints. Thank you.

Fishing: No license is required however please be aware of the fishing regulations with respect to size, quantity & season. For your own safety, we do not recommend you take you boat to the outside of the reef or out into the ocean. There are numerous places to catch fish inshore, just ask us & we will show you where to go. Catches include yellowtail, mutton & mangrove snapper, jacks, grunts, grouper, mackerel etc. Don’t forget the wily bonefish on the Angel Cay flats & in the Bight of Ole Robinsons.